St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-16
DRAMATIC NOTES.

Uncle BoB had no reason to be diSSatiS-
fed with his audience last night, for i'll size
and enthusiasm it was all that could be
asked. Nearly 1900 people assembled in
the opera house to witness the initial pro-
duction in this city by Mr.. and Mrs FLOR
ENCE of CHARLIE GAYLoR'S comedy. Public
opinion may differ as to the merits of the
play itself, but there can be no question that
in the hands of two as accomplished
comedians as Mr.. and Mrs. FLORENCE it is
going to have popular run. "Uncle Bon is
a Western miner who has struck bonanza
and finally becomes cattle king. He has
adopted the daughter of his old partner, who
was killed by the road agents, and sends her
to New York to be educated, and while there
she makes home with brother of Uncle
BoBs, who has also become wealthy. When
her education is finished Uncle BOB goes to
bring her back West, and makes his first
visit to the East since he ran away
twenty years ago. While at his
brothers home he meets Mrs. Maj.
BROWN. the widow of deceased army Off
Ger. The widow lays siege to Uncle BOB's
heartan captures him and his millions. The
daughter of his brother is engaged to Il Col.
DELRoY. whom Uncle BOB recognizes as
former noted blackleg in Virginia City, and
now masquerading as polished gentleman.
A bank has recently been robbed, and the
night after Uncle BoB's arrival his niece's
diamonds are stolen by burglar. BY
a well connected chain of circum-
stantial evidence Uncle Boz, with the
aid of Mrs. Maj. BRowN, identifies
his would-be nephew-in-law as the robber
and burglar. Such in brief is the plot. with
a generous mixture of comedy and sprink
ling of melo-drama interspersed.
The character of ''Uncle Bob is a. new
role for Mr.. FLORENCE. The ranchman is
not an uncommon stage character, but here
tofore he has always been a melodramatic
hero. This is his first appearance as come
dian. and he receives at the hands of Mr..
FLORENCE an artistic touch that has never
been given to the ranchman before. "Uncle
Bob" is not the ranehman of the BUFFALO
BILL type, all imaginary fire and hurrah, but
as personated by Mr.. FLORENCE is
the ranchman as actually seen in
every day western life. 1t is
a faithful portraiture of the typical Western
man. nothing overdone and yet nothing
omitted to make the impersonationa an artistic
production of finished comedy. Picturesque
Uncle Boz is good subject for an artist,
and it enables Mr. FLORENCE to demonstrate
the wonderful versatility of his dramatic
talent. Mrs. FLORENCE is equally fortunate in
having part most admirably suited to her.
In the character of Mrs. BROWN she finds
ample room for display of that yiyacious
comedy for which she is singularly noted.
miss LEIGH excels inlher Interpretation of
the character of BESSIE BATES. who is ''Uncle
BoB's' niece.
Next to the leading roles, Miss WINDSOR
has the most difficult partto play, yet she did
it with an art that ELECTED applause.
Mr. FLoRENeE's makeup in ''Unele Bob" is
as artistic as the Interpretation of the char
acter.
The dance was ali right, but the music was
awful 1t does seem that a S400-a-week Or
chestra ought to be able to put little life
into an old Virginia reel. Trying to dance
reel to music played to the time of the dead
March" is rather a laborious effort